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About the Detroit auto show

The 2014 Silverado made its auto show debut in Detroit auto show on Monday. The pickup truck, along with the redesigned GMC Sierra, has been reworked with a lighter but stiffer frame and cab, a fresh interior with video screens and wireless connectivity, and three new engines -- one V6 and two V8s.

The trucks have the same basic styling as the previous generation of pickups, but underneath the hood is a trio of engines from the fifth generation of GM’s small-block engine family that introduce a suite of fuel-saving technologies: direct fuel injection, which puts the fuel directly into each cylinder; continuously variable valve timing, which adjusts the opening and closing of the valves based on engine load; and cylinder deactivation, which shuts down some of the engine’s cylinders during light-load driving.

The truck engines are a 4.3-liter V6, 5.3-liter V8 and a 6.2-liter V8. They use aluminum blocks and cylinder heads to shed weight, compared to iron blocks and heads. The automatic transmission now uses six gears, up from four.

To further enhance fuel efficiency, the Silverado sees some aerodynamically enhanced styling cues. Door mirrors were redesigned, triple-seal doors are inlaid into the body, and the roof and tailgate were designed for smoother airflow.

While the overall look doesn’t change much, the Chevy pickup is more sculpted, and there is a twin-port grille and full-width bumper.

The Silverado is also more accessible, with larger rear doors that are front-hinged. To better access the truck bed, there are corner steps integrated into the rear bumper, and handholds on the bed. The bed can also be equipped with new upper tie-down hooks, under-rail LED lighting and an easy-lift-and-lower tailgate.

Inside is a six-gauge instrument cluster with an optional center-mounted 4.2-inch information center for vehicle status information. Multiple storage options include a mini filing cabinet in the center console. Knobs are also specially coated with rubber to make them easy to grip, even when wearing gloves.

The annual North American International Auto Show, better known as the Detroit auto show, has maintained its place as a barometer for the entire industry. For 2013, NAIAS takes place Jan. 14-27 and will host concept cars, green cars and supercars from all the major automakers, including what's expected to be a highlight this year: the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Check out Autoweek's complete coverage of the Detroit auto show here.